Cecilia Castle

There are contrasting legal contexts in which children are represented in court. The Family Court deals with private matters at a federal level where parents are the disputing parties, whereas the Children’s Court deals with state based public law matters. The main focus of the Family Court is on the...

Identifying elder abuse can be a challenging process, especially as it usually creeps in insidiously over time. It is a subject rapidly expanding as its own legal jurisdiction. In NSW there are five recognised types of elder abuse that may co-exist simultaneously: Physical abuse: Intentionally inflicting physical pain, injury or...

Spring usually launches an annual flurry of activity in the property market. Vendors are busy styling their properties to advertise them, and buyers are engaged in open house inspections and assessing their borrowing capacity. For vendors their checklist includes interviewing suitable agents and engaging a suitable conveyancer to prepare a...

Traffic infringement notices or penalty notices are issued for various traffic violations such as parking offences, drink driving, and speeding. Penalties include fines and demerit points. Challenging penalty notices can be dealt with in various ways, including: Where the offender is not the driver at the time of the offence,...

Aged Care facilities will come under greater scrutiny with a new Aged Care Act starting on 1 November 2025. The new Act will overhaul the sector to benefit residents and workers. The new legislation provides for improved quality and safety relating to aged care, incorporating a Statement of Rights for...

Legislative changes to property settlements in Family Law come into force on 10 June 2025. The changes affect how the court determines post-separation property settlements and what it must consider when making determinations that are just and equitable between the parties. Key changes relate to the impact of family violence...

Parliament is comprised of members elected by their community to represent their interests. Government passes laws in accordance with those interests after bills are put to the parliament and debated by its elected members. If passed, they become law. Majority government by a single party or coalition is one way...

Residential tenants will soon receive greater protection from legislative changes improving rental conditions implemented by the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act 2024 (NSW). Changes to come into effect in the first half of 2025 include: Ending “no-grounds” terminations for renters, requiring landlords to provide reasons to end an expired lease. Such...

Federal elections are on the horizon, with community Teal Independent candidates making a strong pitch to challenge the local Liberal held seats of Berowra and Bradfield. Bennelong, Warringah and Mackellar are already represented by Teal Independents who are seeking re-election. A redistribution of boundaries has abolished the seat of North...

Thelma reviewed her will and prepared an Enduring Power of Attorney (“EPA”) in readiness for a long and worry-free retirement. The EPA would ensure her financial affairs would be managed by her chosen appointees in the event of her decline or losing her mental capacity. Being in good mental health...